Ring-twisting apparatus



Oct. 20, 1959 w, BAKKER 2,909,026

RING-TWISTING APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1958 E g .l IO

INVENTOR. WILLEM BAKKER AT OR Y Uni ed a s en e I 2,9(l9,026"

RING-TWISTING APPARATUS Willem Bakker, Arnhem, Netherlands, assignor to American Enka Corporation, Euka, N.C., a corporation of Delaware Application July 15, 1958, Serial No. 748,711 Claims priority, application Netherlands July 20, 1957 9 Claims. (Cl. 57-34) This invention relatesin general to the ring-twisting and winding of yarninto package form and more'particularly to an improved ring-twisting apparatus employing a depressible twisting ring for forming a transfer tail.

While not limited to such in its application, this invention is particularly adapted for use on ring-twisting machines utilizing what is referred to in this art as an auxiliary winding ring. A ring-twisting machine of this type is shown and described in copending application Serial No. 691,882, filed-October 23, 1957, and owned in common with the present application. In such a machine, an auxiliary ring is freely-rotatably or otherwise supported by the twisting spindle at or near the lower end of a winding bobbin or spool also carried by the spindle. The auxiliary ring is circumferentially disposed between the outer surface of the bobbin and the twisting ring, whereby upon depression of the latter outside or belowthe normal winding stroke, yarn passing through a ring traveler carried thereby will be directed onto the winding surface of the auxiliary ring. The auxiliary ring per se forms no part of this invention and, consequently, will be discussed hereinafter only in general terms of cooperation with the twisting ring.

Twisting rings of the type presently under consideration normally are secured to a tube system which slidably embraces one or more rods extending vertically downward from a traversing beam, in a direction parallel to the spindle axis. The tube system normally is detachably secured to the rods by a quick-release locking mechanism. In the latched position of the locking mechanism, the tube system, twisting ring, and traveler reciprocate with the rods, as in normal package building, while in the released position of the locking mechanism, the tube system slides freely on the reciprocating rods and thereby maintains the twisting ring in a'stationary depressed condition in alignment with the aforesaid auxiliary Winding ring during continued reciprocation of the rods, fortailmaking or other purposes as is known to this art. I

The machines discussed herein are particularly suited for use in the drawing and twisting, or draw-twisting,

of yarn formed from synthetic linear polycondensation products, such as polyamides and polyesters. When starting 'the draw-twisting operation, or after replacing a filled bobbin with one which is empty, the tube system of the package building mechanism is usually uncoupled so th at the twisting ring and traveler remain opposite or in alignment with the winding surface of the auxiliary ring during continued reciprocation of the traversing beam and rods. Consequently, undrawn yarn initially supplied to the twisting device is directed toward and collected upon the auxiliary ring. This operation is continued until uniformly drawn yarn emerges through the traveler, after which the twisting ring and tube system may be shifted upwardly and coupled with the reciproeating rods by the locking mechanism previously men- R 2,909,026 Patented Oct. 20, 1959 tioned. This normal or operating condition, during which In a conventional ring-twisting machine embodying the ring-depressor principle described above, the tube system usually consists of a pair of tubes, each of which embraces a rod projecting from the traversing beam. During normal draw-twisting operations, this construction is very satisfactory for maintaining the twisting ring fixed in position, relative to the traversing beam, so that no radial movement of the traveler with respect to the twisting spindle occurs. In the use of this structure for tailmaking operations, however, it is necessary to maintain the rods completely free of contamination, since the tubes and rods are dimensioned to close tolerances, and any matter or small particles collected on the rods will impede shifting of the tubes relative thereto. Moreover, if the rods are bent, even slightly, the same resistance to relative movement occurs. If a loose connection is provided between these tubes and rods, however, the same will not function satisfactorily for accurately positioning the twisting ring and twisting spindle during package building. a

A primary object of this invention is to provide a ring depressor tube system not having the disadvantages of known releasable connections.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a coupling system between the depressible twisting ring and traversing beam of a ring-twisting machine which may be disconnected easily but which, during operation, accurately positions the twisting ring with respect to the twisting spindle. V Z

Still another object of this invention is to provide a tube system for a ring-twisting machine which, in released position, will slide easily over the reciprocating rods even though the rods are mis-aligued, bent slightly, or contaminated with foreign matter, but which will accurately position the twisting ring with respect to the twisting spindle during normal package building.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a coupling system between the depressible twisting ring and traversing beam of a ring-twisting machine which is self-adjusting and which will automatically compensate for wear between cooperating surfaces.

The foregoing objects may be accomplished by dimensioning the traversing system in such a manner that greater than normal clearance is provided between the tube and rods embraced thereby, and by providing slack eliminating or pressing means, preferably of the movable type, operating to shift the tube system laterally against the rods when the locking mechanism is engaged.

In accordance with the present invention, as in conventional traversing mechanisms, the tube system may consist of two tubes each embracing .a rod. A more simplified device which operates satisfactorily when modified as taught herein is preferred, however. This device utilizes a single tube which embraces both rods. The tube may be of various shapes, for example, round or elliptical, but it is preferred to use a tube of rectangular cross-section. A tube of this construction satisfactorily withstands axial distortion when in the operative or locked position to be explained hereinbelow.

With the tube pressed transversely against both rods, preferably with the long side of the former engaged with the latter, the clearance transversely tothe plane of the rods is eliminated. Moreover, the friction between the inner surface of the tube and the outer surface of the rods is increased to such an extent that movement of the tube relative to the rods in this plane is prevented. It is also possible, of course, to construct the slack eliminating or pressing mechanism'so that, in the locked posi tion, the inner surface of a lateral or short side of the tube also engages a rod. Such is not necessary, however, to ensure positive clamping.

The length of the tube may vary within wide limits. It is not necessary, for example, that the tube entirely envelope or enclose both rods in the coupled position. This arrangement is preferred, however, since the tube protects the rods against contamination and bending during normal operation.

An abutment and a cooperating clamping plate are provided for transversely or laterally shifting the tube system in accordance with this invention. The abutment has .a running-on or wedging surface extending obliquely with respect to the direction of movement during a traverse stroke. One edge of the clamping plate cooperates with this abutment and an opposite edge or counter rim presses against and shifts the tube system in response to engagement of the first edge with the wedging surface. The abutment is supported by the tube system and the clamping plate is carried by the traversing mechanism, although the converse would serve the same purpose.

The abutment and clamping plate may be rigidly connected to the tube system and traversing beam, respective'ly. Such construction, however, would not adjust for wear after continued use. Clearance would result from the sliding movement between these parts and the clamping or pressing action in the locked position would decrease accordingly. This disadvantage may be alleviated and any increase in clearance caused by wear may be compensated for automatically if the clamping plate is movably supported and spring urged toward the wedging surface in the manner to be explained.

In the preferred embodiment, the clamping plate is movably supported by the traversing mechanism, with one edge thereof engaging the aforesaid wedging surface of an abutment carried by the tube system and the counter rim or opposite edge thereof engaging a lip fixed to and depending from the traversing mechanism, and spring means are provided for urging the clamping plate downwardly into engagement with the wedging surface and lip. The length of the spring means is such that the clamping plate may be lifted by the wedging surface to a considerable extent in locking or clamping position. The spring means is compressed and thereby exerts a lateral force on the tube system throughthe aforesaid counter rim and wedging surface. The spring means compensates for wear between the clamping plate and wedging surface until such time as the plate is no longer lifted by the abutment. By proper selection of abutment position and length of the spring means, it is possible to achieve the desired lateral pressing action even after considerable wear on the cooperating elements.

The required limited movement of the clamping plate relative to the rods may be obtained by providing apertures in the plate near one end thereof and by extending guiding pins parallel to the traversing rods through these apertures. The pins may be secured at one end to the traversing beam and may have enlarged heads on the free or opposite end for limiting movement of the clamping plate thereon. Coil pressure springs may be provided around the guiding pins between the plate and traversing beam for urging one edge of the former into engagement with the enlarged heads and the opposite edge into engagement with the aforesaid lip depending from the traversing beam.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon study of the detailed description of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing one spindle of a ring-twisting machine modified in accordance with this invention, with the twisting ring in clamped or normal twisting position;

.Figure 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the same machine shown in Figure 1, but with the twist- ,4 ing ring uncoupled fi'om the traversing beam for a tailmaking operation; and

Figure 3 is a detail view of the tube system taken along lines 33 of Figure 2.

Only one twisting position 10 has been indicated in the drawings. It will be apparent, however, that a conventional ring-twisting machine of the type herein under consideration contains a plurality of twisting positions identical to that shown. Twisting spindle 11 is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and is supported from the frame of the machine in a known manner not indicated. Pulley 12 is secured to the lower end of spindle 11 and is driven by means of a belt (not shown) in order to impart rotation to the spindle.

During a ring-twisting operation, a yarn collecting tube or spool 13 is positioned over the spindle 11 in the manner shown. The lower edge of the tube is supported by a flange 14 fixed on the spindle in a known manner. A cylindrical or annular auxiliary winding ring 15 fits snugly around the flange 14 and is provided on its periphery with cooperating outwardly projecting rims 16, 17 defining therebetween a yarn receiving groove or channel. The upper rim 16 also projects inwardly as shown and engages the upper surface of flange 14 in order to position ring 15 longitudinally with respect to the spindle and collecting tube. Upon threading in of this twisting position, auxiliary winding ring 15 initially collects yarn until a uniform product is obtained, as is fully explained in aforesaid application Serial No. 691,882.

Twisting spindle 11 is surrounded in known manner by twisting ring 18 which, as shown, is supported by and fixed relative to ring holder 20. Holder 20 is supported from rectangular tube 21 by a bar 22. A single tube 21, as shown, embraces two traversing rods 23. The internal surfaces of tube 21 have been dimensioned so as to provide an excess clearance between the tube and rods. These rods are fixed at the upper ends to traversing beam 24 which extends longitudinally of the twisting machine and normal or perpendicular to the direction of traverse of rods 23. The traversing beam normally extends the entire length of the twisting machine and is reciprocated in a vertical plane by cam or other means (not shown) provided at the ends thereof. The rods 23 are interconnected at the lower ends thereof by a stabilizing-strut 25, as shown in Figure 3.

Lever 26, having a pawl 27 formed on the lower end thereof, is pivotally supported from traversing beam 24 by shaft 28. Traversing beam 24 is suitably apertured to permit passage of operating rod 30 which is pivotally secured at one end to the lever 16. The opposite end of rod 30 projects from beam 24 and terminates in a push button 31. Spring .32 constantly urges the rod and lever to the right, as viewed in Figure 1, which is the closed position of this lever. Pressure on push button 31 of course will shift the lever 16 to the left, which is the re leased or uncoupled position. Pawl 27 is suitably positioned so as to cooperate with hook 33 fixed to bar 22.

In the released or uncoupled position, ring holder 30 rests against stop means 34, which may be adjustable if desired. A resilient bufier member 35 usually is provided to cushion the shock when ring 18 is dropped to the depressed position shown in Figure 2. Stop means 34 should be adjusted or .pre-formed to maintain thering 18 in radial alignment with the yarn receiving surface of auxiliary winding ring 15. The latching mechanism thus far described operates in a known manner to couple twisting ring 18 to traversing beam 24 during normal package building operations and to release this ring so that the same may be depressed during a. tailmaking operation.

In addition to the structure described above, a bracket 36 terminating in a supporting lip 37 has been mounted T to the lower edge of traversing beam 24. The lip 37 of braeket 36 supports one edge of clamping plate 38 and the verticalleg of'this bracket functions as a fixed stop against which this edge of the clamping plate is urged.

Clamping plate 38 is provided with two oversize apertures (not shown) through which traversing rods 23 pass and two oversize openings permitting passage of guiding pins 40. These guiding pins extend vertically parallel to the traversing rods and are connected at their upper ends to traversing beam 24. Each pin is provided at the lower end thereof with an enlarged head or limiting cam 41 which supports that end of clamping plate 38 opposite from the lip 37. Coiled pressure springs 42 are arranged coaxially about the guiding 'pins and press the clamping plate against the enlarged heads 41 and supporting lip 37.

An abutment 43 is fixed to and extends upwardly from bar 22. The upper surface 44 of this abutment is inclined with, or extends obliquely with respect to, the vertical axis of the traversing rods and tube; In the locked position, or that position in which ring holder 20 is coupled to the traversing beam 24, as shown in Figure 1, the unsupported edge 45 of clamping plate 38 engages and cooperates with the inclined surface 44 of wedge-shaped abutment 43.

When the inclined surface or wedge 44 is engaged by he unsupported edge 45 of clamping plate 38, the abutment 43 is forced to the right, when viewed as in Figure 1, because the resistance of springs 42 is greater than the frictional force developed, thus preventing spring retraction.

The plate 38 cannot shift because of its engagement with the vertical leg of bracket 36. Inasmuch as abutment 43 is fixed to tube 21, the latter also moves to the right until the inner surface of one of the long edges (in this instance, the left edge) engages the outer surfaces of rods 23. As a result of this, the clearance or slack between the tube and rods is entirely eliminated, and this action occurs before the hook 33 is engaged by pawl 27. When the tube 21 is further shifted relative to the rods '23 in order to engage the latching mechanism, the unsupported end of clamping plate 38 is moved upwardly against the biasing action of springs 42 while lip 37 of I bracket 36 continues to support the plate. The springs 42 are of such resiliency that they may be compressed until pawl 27 clicks into place behind hook 33. This slack eliminating means operates satisfactorily, despite wear between the surfaces of unsupported edge 45 and wedge 44, so long as abutment 43 lifts the clamping plate 38 slightly off enlarged heads 41 in the clamped position.

When the device described above is operated as a drawtwisting machine, yarn initially supplied thereto of course is not drawn uniformly, if at all. Accordingly, the twisting ring 18 should be depressed to the Figure 2 position where by the force of gravity it remains in alignment with the outer surface of auxiliary winding ring 15. This condition may be obtained by pressing on push button 31 whereby pawl 27 will release, or be released by, hook 3'3, and the ring will drop to the lower position. Tube 21 and abutment 43 will slide relative to traversing rods 23 until buffer 35 rests on stop means 34.

Undrawn yarn 46 is supplied from a source not shown to traveler 47 which slidably engages twisting ring 18 in known manner. With the ring depressed, traveler 47 directs yarn '46 onto the outer yarn-collecting surface of auxiliary winding ring 15, which ring rotates by virtue of its engagement With flange 14 on rotating spindle 11. After the yarn is threaded through the drawing mechanism (not shown) and uniformly drawn yarn is supplied to traveler 47, ring holder 20, tube system 21 and abutment 43 are raised until wedge surface 44 engages unsupported edge 45 of clamping plate 38, which engagement shifts the ring holder to the right until tube 21 engages the rods 2'3. This, of course, completely eliminates the existing clearance between these members. Further raising of the ring holder -20 results in clamping of the latching mechanism 27, 33 as explained. The tube system now is rigidly coupled to the traversing mechanism '6 and r'eciprocates therewith "without additional vibration or shifting due to slack or loose connections. Yarn 46, which now is drawn, is wound directly onto yarn collectinlg tube 13.

Actuation of push button 3 1 may be donedirectly 'by hand or indirectly by the use of a lever and drawrod suitably positioned behind and above the traversing beam so that upon pulling of the drawrod the lever will engage and depress pushbutton. 31. This structure per se, however, forms no part of the present invention.

As soon as yarn collecting tube 13 is filled the same may be replaced with one which is empty, and the threading-up procedure outlined above may be repeated.

Although a movably mounted clamping plate 38 is preferred, operation with a fixed plate is also possible. Unless the same is resilient, a fixed clamping plate will not compensate for slack due to worn parts, as described hereinabove. Before such wear occurs, however, a fixed plate of this type operates quite satisfactorily in producing packages of desired shape.

Inasmuch as other modifications will become apparent to those skilled in this art, it is intended that the scope of this invention be limited only to the extent set forth in the annexed claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ring-twisting machine having a reciprocable traversing beam, a depressible ring holder and clamping means for locking said holder to said beam, the improvement comprising means for eliminating clearance between said holder and said beam when said clamping means is shifted into locked position.

2. A ring-twisting machine comprising a reciprocable traversing beam, a depressible ring holder, means releasable clamping said ring holder to said traversing beam for movement therewith, and means for eliminating clearance between said ring holder and said traversing beam when said clamping means is engaged.

3. A ring-twisting machine comprising a reciprocable traversing beam, a ring holder mounted for movement with and with respect to said traversing beam, means for releasably securing said ring holder to said traversing beam, and means operating in response to coupling by said securing means for shifting said ring holder relative to said traversing beam, thereby eliminating clearance therebetween.

4. A ring-twisting apparatus comprising a reciprocable traversing beam, at least one traversing rod secured to said traversing beam for movement therewith, a ring holder, a tube system secured to said ring holder and surrounding said traversing rod, means for releasably clamping said tube system to said rod for movement therewith, and means operative in response to coupling by said clamping means for shifting said tube system relative to said traversing rod, thereby eliminating clearance therebetween.

5. A ring-twisting apparatus comprising a reciprocable traversing beam, at least one traversing rod secured to said traversing beam for movement therewith, a ring holder, a tube system secured to said ring holder and loosely surrounding said rod, means for releasably latching said tube system to said traversing beam, a clamping plate movably supported by said traversing beam for cooperation with said tube system, said clamping plate operating in response to coupling by said latching means for eliminating clearance between said tube system and said rod.

6. A ring-twisting apparatus comprising a reciprocable traversing beam, at least one traversing rod secured to said traversing beam for movement therewith, a ring holder, a tube system secured to said ring holder and I loosely surrounding said traversing rod, means for releasably latching said tube system to said rod for movement therewith, a clamping plate supported by said traversing beam, and an abutment secured to said tube system in alignment with one edge of said clamping 7 plata said clamping plate and abutment cooperating in response to coupling of said latching means to shift said tube system relative, itosaid rod, thereby eliminating clearance therebetween.

-7. (A ring-twisting apparatus comprising a reciprocable traversing beam, at :least one traversing rod secured to said traversing beam, a ring holder, a tube system secured to said ring holder and loosely surrounding said rod, means for releasably latching said tube system to said traversing beam, a clamping plate, means on said traversing beam 'movably supporting said clamping plate, an abutment supported by said tube system, said abut ment having an inclined upper surface aligned with one edge of said clamping plate, said clamping plate and said inclinedsurface cooperating to shift said tube system relative to said rod in response to movement of said ring holder into latched position.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 and further comprising means "for resiliently urging -sa'id clamping plate into engagement with said inclined surface whereby the same swiil automatically compensate lfor =wear between cooperating surfaces. I

9. In a ring-twisting apparatus having a reeiprocablje traversing beam, a depressible ring holder structure and means for releasably locking said ring holder'to said traversing beam, the improvement comprisingaclarnping plate movably supported by said traversing beam and cooperating with said ring holder structure to eliminate clearance between said beam and holder when the latter is locked to the former, and resilient means for urging said clamping plate intooperative position to automatical- 1y compensate for wear between cooperating surfaces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,870,595 Eidlow et a1. Jan. 27, 1959 

